Secure psychiatric care: How appearance and neglect affect women
Clive Long Associate director of psychology and psychological therapies, St Andrew’s Academic Centre, Northampton
Elizabeth Ritchie Self-care/beauty therapist, St Andrew’s Healthcare, Northampton
Olga Dolley Assistant psychologist, St Andrew’s Healthcare, Northampton
Lesley Collins Service director, St Andrew’s Healthcare, Northampton
Clive Long and colleagues report on an intervention that can help inpatients look after themselves more effectively and integrate successfully in the community
Aim To provide effective interventions for body image, appearance, and physical health and self-care for women in secure psychiatric settings.
Method A manualised group intervention is described that addresses the reality of the issues linked to how people present themselves on a daily basis. The article also examines how interventions can be used to help overcome stigma and encourage successful community integration.
Results Observed changes that moved ratings to those typical of non-clinical samples are likely to make future community reintegration easier.
Conclusion There were significant and positive changes evident on various measures relating to appearance, self-care and body image, despite no loss of weight, in 19 women who completed treatment.
Mental Health Practice.
16, 8, 12-17.
doi: 10.7748/mhp2013.05.16.8.12.e836
Correspondence
clong@standrew.co.uk
Peer review
This article has been subject to double blind peer review
Conflict of interest
None declared
Accepted: 20 July 2012
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